Originally posted by blind one 118 ok…so if this forum isn’t the place to discuss changes in company procedure that effect the game <ie shimel strongly believes that the prs effects game play although I haven’t seen any evidence of this and don’t agree with him> then where is the place to do that? should there be a place where only disenfranchised players gather to argue over these things when obviously they can do little about changes without inputting into the company? I see the entire shimel arguement as actually beneficial to the company <albiet in a rather aggravating form> in that there has been no jumping on the shimel bandwagon to get rid of the prs thus they know it isn’t having an immediate adverse effect on game enjoyment…I still say he’s harmless and has the right to be heard…it’s not like he’s getting on here insulting an entire state of people… GO BLUE!!!
Chuckle
The Tressel era has begun, and so goes the downfall of the University of Michigan and all their foolish followers.
Back to the point. Shimel made his point, and he does have a valid one in that PRS can encourage bad play. The problem, as I see it, lies two fold.
First Shimel has decided to turn himself into a martyr, or as I see it a fool in Middle Earth clothing, and prove his point by ruining one game, 233 in particular, by altering his playing style to run up victory points. Granted this is one of the many aspects of PRS but the Victory Point aspect is what he objects to and has decided that he would take it upon himself to demonstrate its weakness by trying to ruin the game for as many people as possible. And that’s fine, he can do that, and as retribution my fellow Dark Servants in 233 and I have agreed that we will eliminate his nation so he can’t win and watch him throw a hissy fit in the process.
However the second reason is more telling. Clint had repeatedly told Shimel the reasonings behind PRS, why it would stay, and had made it clear to him that further discussion, private or otherwise, would not change the company’s policy. Not having personally read the e-mails that were exchanged between Clint and Shimel, Clint felt they were no longer constructive and became abusive towards himself and the rest of the staff. This is the same as a customer walking into a store and knocking over display cases because a particular item is out of stock or a refund not being granted when there is clearly a NO REFUNDS sign visible or something to that nature. In short the customer is not always right, especially when said customer is being rude and abusive.
Is Shimel harmless? Quite. Is he a nuisance? Quite. Is this censorship as he claims? Not a chance in hell. Is Shimel still a fool? Of course.
awww…come on nick…can’t you picture shimel as that homeless man with the end of the world sign? lol <sorry shimel but you are too funny with the endless predictions of doom and gloom>…as far as doing economic harm to the company…as far as I can tell he’s pretty much limited to the power possessed in his own wallet…was he being rude in emails…probably…I have no reason to doubt that…the conversations on here were getting very rude and not just by him either I might add…I imagine emails were worse and I wouldn’t blame clint and company if they deleted without response every time…doesn’t change my opinion that he should be allowed to post if for no other reason then the slippery slope theory and what effect it may have on the forum long term
Hya Guys - okay I’ve banned Darrell from this for 3 months. He’s been sending flames and personal attacks for a period of time, off list and on-list. He’s damaged the game, and despite my best attempts at reasonable dialogue he’s chosen to ignore those posts.
I’ve been very patient with him and asked him to provide a suitable system but also mentioned that for a period of months I wanted to just try it out. His reply was that he was going to deliberately attempt to derail the system - bringing a lot of heartache and unpleasantness to the game. He’s personally attacked me on multiple occasions and basically slurred us constantly.
His constant spamming of the list (and emails) to me have caused a lot of player discontent - this is my livelihood and that of my staff so I wish to protect that and the game. The number of attempts Darrell has had to derail something that he doesn’t agree with verge on nearing 100 postings - and I find it a bad precedent to bow to one player complaining for the good of the other players in the game.
I have warned him for his abusive language and personal attacks on others and so he has a 3month ban. Not a lifetime ban, and at present if he’s prepared to accept that then I’m more than happy to have him play the game but if he’s going to attempt to break the game as part of his personal crusade then I might be forced to take issue with that.
In 11 years of GMing this is first time I’ve taken such action of banning a player. I did this because I feel that this is that dangerous an attempt of a player attempting to blackmail or damage our reputation into doing what he wants himself to do and has basically lost control.
Most players support the PRS, or at least are happy to let it carry on and see what happens. Darrell offered to create a new system but has yet to come through on that (I offered support on that if he wanted to do it). His attempt to slur the PRS (and other aspects) have clearly damaged this. This is a service that we provide to you the players, that we support and we reserve the right to have a policy where players respond so civilised debate and discussion, not shout until they drown everyone else out. It’s called common decency and Darrell has gone way beyond that I’m afraid.
As to the other comments about the game and our service I think that a private email to me about that is fine if you want to discuss it, or if you want to discuss that in public that’s fine as well but often it will get tied up in other issues and get sidetracked. If you aren’t happy with the way we do things then I find it’s easiest to bring that up in private so that we can resolve the issue but am content to discuss it in public if you want. As usual I’m happy to listen, discuss the details in depth and try to sort things out to the best of my ability and help where I can.
Since that time, I have gotten my 3rd choice in both games I requested. I believe that the game mod’s do take things personally and they do react accordingly despite what they say to the contrary.
Sorry I don’t agree here Steven. It’s nothing personal you’ve just been unlucky in that and the way things change. No ulterior motive or anything like that. As an example of this sort of perception I’ve had many complaints in the past when players get a Downgrade order or 525 fail (or multiple ones) to be statistically unlikely. BUT I’ve never had a player complain that they’ve had all their 185s or InfOther attempts work when that was very unlikely. Just human nature.
Although I don’t enjoy being attacked I keep a professional distance from those insults and have a pretty thick skin. It’s the only way to remain impartial and fair. I’m human and don’t get it always right, but I don’t then bump a player to worst choices for example or anything like that. I doubt my reassurances will help but I don’t think that there is anything that I could do that would help here other than see how things develop. We get unhappy players from time to time - not much I can do about that other than try to run the best game and best service that we can. If that’s not good enough that’s a real shame but more service and other bits that are requested would cost more time, effort or energy and I try to support the game as best I can.
I’ve just received this from Darrell. I think it clearly shows intent to damage the game and is very threatening. I do not know what he intends to do but I find that this blackmail is somewhat disgusting.
Clint
"You should not fire the first shot, unless you are truly prepared for war.
I know you don’t want me dedicating ALL my free time to doing some REAL damage to the game, now do you.
I know you don’t want me dedicating ALL my free time to doing some REAL damage to the game, now do you.
So far, I’ve only spoken. I WILL not be silenced.
At this point, you can stop the war.
Or, you can let it continue to escalate. I promise I will not shut up, and I will not go away. And posting to the forum will be the least of your problems.
I will give you 72 hours to think about your next move. If your position is that you will not allow me to say things you do not like, then it will officially be all out war.
Originally posted by Clint
[b]"You should not fire the first shot, unless you are truly prepared for war.
I know you don’t want me dedicating ALL my free time to doing some REAL damage to the game, now do you.
I know you don’t want me dedicating ALL my free time to doing some REAL damage to the game, now do you.
So far, I’ve only spoken. I WILL not be silenced.
At this point, you can stop the war.
Or, you can let it continue to escalate. I promise I will not shut up, and I will not go away. And posting to the forum will be the least of your problems.
I will give you 72 hours to think about your next move. If your position is that you will not allow me to say things you do not like, then it will officially be all out war.
Yours,
Darrell Shimel" [/b]
Ahhhhhh, such a wonderful husband and father figure… Charles Manson would be proud.
I think it’s quite clear what shimels all about. I hate seeing anyone squeezed as clint and crew . The only way I see is to let him back on and no one but no one respond to him . Agree or disagree he should be shunned. Let him rant to himself.
I WILL NOT BE CENSORED! I HAVE A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH! I WILL MAKE MY VOICE HEARD! I WILL RANT AND RAVE! I AM NOT A HAPPY CUSTOMER! SOMEONE VALIDATE MY EXISTENCE!
I just noticed that my post on the censorship issue has been deleted as well. Is that an oversight or overly active delete button reflex Clint?
Sorry accidently done it. Not intentional. Does anyone know who Paddy McDermitt is? I’ve checked our files and can’t find that player, nor has he responded to my email. Anyone able to help?
if only the NooNoo could come along and SLLLUUUUURRRRPPP up all the MESS on this particular topic. sigh
My thoughts:
a. Darrell should shut up about PRS, move on & play the game
b. Ben should shut up about Darrell, move on & play the game
c. Clint should NOT barr either from this board irregardless
d. This board should be independent - by & for the players. If it’s not, that’s too bad.
e. By & large, there is great respect & support from the player community for customer service from Harley. IMHO it’s better than it’s ever been in MEPBM. Part of that is Clint’s willingness to accept dissenting voices. Such voices aren’t bad for business. If a message resonates with the player community, it’s free market research and provides Harley an opportunity for improvement the data for which cost nothing to gather. If the message is shouted down by the player community, then Harley looks good for allowing the discussion, and no one is harmed. I frankly believe the Darrell ranting falls into this second category and that Clint would be far better served allowing Darrell to rant until his face turns blue because all it does is further make Darrell look silly. And Ben would be far better served allowing Darrell to look silly than to rant back and look just as silly.
ok. Now Ben can rant at me some… And I don’t even live in Michigan. Ben, what do you think of California?
Ran into Paddy in the old GSI days, but no contact in 5 or 6 or more years. From the cadence of the writing, I’m sure Paddy and Darrell are not the same person.
Before anyone else claims that they have “ran into me” or that we’re long lost brothers I suppose that I will speak up. I’m not going to disclose who I am but I’m not going to cover up who I am either. There is enough in my posts that Harlequin can directly link me with who I am. I’ve posted many times in different forums and have always used an alias, it is my method and my way. I prefer to remain anonymous. If Harlequin can use the few clues they have to figure it out then so be it, that is fine by me. In fact the clues are there because I let them be. If I absolutely did not want my identification known they would not be there.
My name is not Paddy McDermitt. It is in fact a name that I had found on the middle earth website. Under the section PRS-Equations page, just beneath the topic “Council of the wise” there is an “end of game nomination form” with an example of how to fill it out. Underneath best team player, Paddy Mcdermitt comes in third just after Fred Bloggs and John Doe. Two people that some of you also may have ran into. With my last post I actually did not sign off as Paddy because I did not want to build a rapport with the community on the board and lose their trust (for lack of a better word) if it was found that I was not that person. Now that the proverbial Pukel Creature is out of the bag I may go on using Paddy.
I can assure you that I am not Darrel Shimel and in my recollection I have never crossed paths with him before. He is as much a mystery to me as I am to him and the rest of you.
No Clint, this is the forum where this discussion can take place. As you stated just recently
“If you aren’t happy with the way we do things then I find it’s easiest to bring that up in private so that we can resolve the issue but am content to discuss it in public if you want. As usual I’m happy to listen, discuss the details in depth and try to sort things out to the best of my ability and help where I can.”
As stated you are content to discuss it in public if we want. That’s the way I would prefer it. Otherwise email me. I hadn’t realized that I was emailed. I’ve now read the email and find it a little disturbing. So that everyone might know it’s contents here is the content of that message in it’s entirety.
Hello Paddy - who are you and what’s your account? I’ll be happy to reply to your email on the forum then.
Thanks
Clint
The reason I found it disturbing is the plain fact that all you want is to know who I am and my account. This could be construed as a veiled threat. As if somehow it might affect any game I might be in. I see no necessity for you to know that information. If you really want to know who I am then you should put your Hercule Poirot hat and mustache on. If you’d like you can quiz me about the game to make sure that I in fact even play. I can assure you my knowledge of the game is quite extensive. My knowledge has actually corrected information that was listed on CbZach’s and Stormy’s websites when they existed. When Bobbins first came up I emailed him a few corrections as well, and a few other sites. My attention to detail is quite acute. I could tell this very minute that the DosMap by Ian Keane has more wrong with it than just a couple of pop centers. There is one hex listed as plains when it is actually a hills and rough hex.
All that matters is this. I am now part of this conversation. It shouldn’t matter if I have an account or not, which I do. I have posted three times on this topic now and the content of those posts have been assimilated into the discussion. If you have answers or comments about my public posts then you should be polite enough to post back in public so everyone who has been following this topic can hear it.
All that matters is this. I am now part of this conversation. It shouldn’t matter if I have an account or not, which I do. I have posted three times on this topic now and the content of those posts have been assimilated into the discussion. If you have answers or comments about my public posts then you should be polite enough to post back in public so everyone who has been following this topic can hear it.
Hello “Paddy” as mentioned in an email I just sent you I generally only reply to players who sign their posts with their name. That way I know who I am “talking” to. I’ve had people post under false names to support a viewpoint in the past. Especially in a delicate situation like this with Darrell and myself attempting to find a common ground (which we’re working on at present). More than happy to answer your questions then as a paying customer.
If you’ve got nothing to hide then there’s no reason for me not to know who I am talking to uh?
As an example of this sort of perception I’ve had many complaints in the past when players get a Downgrade order or 525 fail (or multiple ones) to be statistically unlikely. BUT I’ve never had a player complain that they’ve had all their 185s or InfOther attempts work when that was very unlikely. Just human nature. 
